Lucia Goodwin: Kenyan Woman Making Millions Selling Wine in Australia

Lucia Goodwin, a Kenyan-born entrepreneur, is carving out a niche in Australia’s competitive wine industry with her successful company, Zhiro Wines.

Since co-founding the winery in 2016, Lucia has defied the odds to build one of the fastest-growing wineries in the country.

Specializing in sparkling wines with flavors like lemon, strawberry, and honeyed cream, Zhiro Wines has grown its market presence both locally and internationally, reaching Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Lucia’s journey into the world of winemaking began when she immigrated to Australia as a student. While studying, she took up a job as an occupational therapist, regularly visiting clients’ homes—many of which were named after vineyards.

Her curiosity about the wine industry quickly turned into a passion, leading her to compete in wine-tasting competitions. Lucia excelled in these competitions, identifying mystery wine bottles with remarkable accuracy.

This growing passion and expertise in wine eventually led her to consult for an Australian winery, where she successfully blended and exported wines to various markets.

Despite her successes, Lucia faced considerable challenges breaking into the male-dominated wine industry.

“Being a woman and black, and from a country not known for wine production, it hasn’t been easy competing with, for example, Italian and French products,” she admitted.

However, Lucia’s determination and business acumen helped her overcome these obstacles, establishing herself as a serious investor in the sector.

Zhiro Wines, which started with a modest production, now produces between 32,000 and 40,000 liters of wine every two months.

The company’s vineyard is located in the renowned Adelaide Hills, 425 meters above sea level.

The region’s cool climate, high altitude, and ancient soils are ideal for cultivating high-quality grapes, and Lucia owns a stake in the 750-acre vineyard that supplies her winery.

As a hands-on boss, Lucia is involved in every stage of the winemaking process, from pruning to fermentation.

She is also well-versed in selecting the right time to release wines into the market, depending on the aging process and seasonal factors.